Remote meter reading system

ABSTRACT

A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data registers including a mobile or stationary transmitter for transmitting coded signals representing the identification number of a register to be read and a transponder at each register location for receiving the identification signals and responsive to readout signals transmitted from the transmitter to transmit back to the transmitter data signals representing the reading of the interrogated register.

United States Patent 11 1 05,385 Batz [45] Dec. 5, 1972 [541 REMOTE METER READING SYSTEM 3,406,344 /1968 Hopper ..179/2 DP 3 484 694 12/1969 Brothman et al. .....340/151 X tz ,1 [72] James E Nmhbmk 3,492,649 1/1970 POllllO ..340/147 x [73] Assignee: Northern Illinois Gas Company, Au- 3,510,841 5/1970 Lejon ..340/151 rora, 111. 3,566,234 2/1971 Thomson ..325/8 X [22] Flled: 1969 Primary Examiner-Donald J. Yusko [21] Appl. No.: 883,890 Attorney-Fred Jacob and Leo Stanger [52] US. Cl....; ..340/152 R, 325/8, 343/68 [57] ABS 5 m (3| 01 9 5 0 1 7 4, 04 9 12 A system for selectively obtaining information from a 58 Field 61 Search ..340/15o-152, 171, plurality of remotely located data registers including a 340/147; 179/2 DP, 15 FS, 15 BL; 325/8; mobile or stationary transmitter for transmitting coded 343/63 180 signals representing the identification number of a re- 1 gister to be read and a transponder at each register 10- [56] References Cited cation for receiving the identification signals and responsive to readout signals transmitted from the UNITED STATES PATENTS transmitter to transmit back to the transmitter data ti d' f th t d 3,261,922 7/1966 Edson 61611 ..179/2 DP 251:? the tea 8 e'mgate 3,263,217 7/1966 Boosman ..340/171 3,304,500 2/1967 Like] 179/2 DP 49 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Rf m IL 4 SIAGE DETECTOR AMPLIFIER L ER 42 com/Nam FILTER 44 45 46 4 49 r f I) LOCI'ED 055M470 TONE T0115 1 7s READ/N6 TRANSFER GATES E f g? L REPLY CLOCK PULSE 1 0A 74 65M. OUENCH/NG 29 STAGE 64 r: Mon/Mm j SHIFT ggGISTER POWER CODE R560 (21;! 77 ON 04 755' POWER L A re POWER 54 sw/rcn 53 ENABLE 1Q PKTENTEDHE 5197? saw OSUF 15 NE: .Zm

INVENTOR JAMES E. BATZ ATT Y5.

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HI-VsIvI IMILLION 4/5 DATA OUTPUT INVENTOR. JA MES E. BATZ P'A'TENTEDnEc 5|972 3.705.385 sum mar 15 2/5 ENCUO/NG' DISC. FOR METER REGISTER INVENTOR JAMES E. BATZ ATTYS REMOTE METER READING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to remote register reading systems and more particularly, to a remote register reading system in which data representing a reading is transmitted over an RF signal link or a communication line to an interrogation point from a register remotely located from the interrogation point.

2. Description of the Prior Art Meters which measure the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricity, water, and the like and include a register for recording the amount of the commodity used are presently employed by utility companies as a means by which customer billings for the quantity of the commodity used are determined.

For purposes of billing the customer, readings of the meter register are made on a monthly or a bi-monthly basis. At the present time, the meter readings are taken by employees of a utility company who go to each meter location and read the meter registers directly to ascertain the quantity of a commodity used in a given period. Because of the large number of meters to be read during each billing period, the utility company must employ numerous meter readers. Moreover, while some modern homes and apartment buildings have utility meters located outside or in a readily accessible place to facilitate meter reading, many installations present the problem of skip readings necessitating repeat calls by a meter reader.

Each meter reader generally has a set of data cards, one for each meter to be read, and at each meter location, he checks the meter identification and indicates the reading of the meter on the corresponding data card. However, human error may be introduced into the reading of the meter and the marking of the reading on the data card.

To minimize repeat calls, external meter registers may be connected to the meter to register the meter reading at a location remote from the meter at an outside or more accessible location than the meter location. The remote register may include apparatus for registering the meter readings on a media suitable for direct processing by data processing equipment. Such systems lessen the chance of human error and skip readings, but still require numerous meter readers to obtain the necessary periodic readings of the meter registers.

A further step in the automation of meter reading has been an attempt to obtain the reading of the meter from a remote central location by way of a communication line such as the telephone line of the customer. To data, such systems have not proven feasible particularly because of the high cost involved in equipping each meter with a transmitter unit to transmit data representing the meter reading back to a meter interrogation center in response to an interrogating command sent to the meter unit from the interrogation center.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system for obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices such as are associated with measuring or monitoring apparatus and used to accumulate data over a period of time or to provide instantaneous readings of a condition measured by the apparatus. By way of illustration, the system is described in an application for providing the remote readout of a meter register.

In the described systems, a transponder is provided at the location of each meter which is to be read and the readout of each meter is controlled from an interrogating position or a control station which may be mobile or fixed. Each meter transponder consists of a basic unit providing data control and data storage, and an RF module which is used to effect the reception of RF signals transmitted from the interrogating position, and the transmission of data representing the reading of the interrogated meter to the interrogating position. Altemately, a direct line module can be used to supplement the basic unit to permit interrogation of the meter over a communication line. The transponder unit forms a compact package which can easily be attached to existing meters.

The transponder employs solid-state circuits using low-cost, low-power solid-state devices, such as fieldeffect transistors. Such circuits can be manufactured using state of the art techniques whereby component cost is reduced and manufacturing costs are minimized.

The transponder is operationally feasible for remote meter reading applications because of the low power requirements of the transponder circuits. For example, most of the individual circuits which comprise the transponder of the present invention employ field-effect transistors which are, for the most part, connected in a complementary symmetry output configuration so that little power is drawn by the circuits.

Furthermore, the transponder includes a switching circuit which connects power to the transmitting section of the transponder only when the meter is being read.

Only the input section of each meter transponder is normally energized to receive the meter interrogation signals transmitted to the meter from the interrogating position.

Since the power requirements for the transponder are very low, the use of battery power, solar cells, etc., is feasible. Consequently, no external power source or utility connection is required to provide energization of the transponder at the remote location.

The transponder unit for remote meter reading systems which use RF signaling utilizes a unique transmitting technique in which readout signals transmitted from the interrogating position to effect readout of a remote meter are modified at the transponder to represent the data stored by the transponder being readout, and are retransmitted to the interrogating position.

The readout signals are modified and retransmitted by a transponder circuit referred to in this description as a locked oscillator. The locked oscillator is controlled by a quenching modulator circuit to generate a series of RF sideband signals separated from the frequency of the readout signals by multiples of the frequency of the controlling signals generated by the quenching modulator circuit. The locked oscillator acts somewhat as a super-regenerative receiver, but is used in the transponder of the present invention as a transmitting source.

A receiver at the interrogating position is tuned to one of the sideband frequencies generated to detect the data being transmitted from the transponder. The signal reception at the interrogating position can be optimized by tuning the receiver to the sideband having the greatest amplitude and least interference from extraneous signals.

The frequency stability of the system is substantially independent of the transponder and is determined largely at the van interrogating position since the carrier signals transmitted therefrom are modified at the transponder to represent the data stored at the transponder and are retransmitted from the transponder to the interrogating position. The quenching modulator frequency is approximately a thousand times less than the carrier frequency and thus any variations in the quenching modulator frequency which might occur would have little affect on the retransmitted signals. Moreover, this frequency stability is obtained without the need to use a crystal-controlled oscillator, special temperature compensating circuits, an oven, or the like. Such considerations would tend to render the transponder economically unfeasible.

The synchronization of the readout of the data a bit at a time is effected by the readout signals transmitted from the interrogating source to the transponder. Thus, a clock pulse generating circuit for generating sync pulses at the transponder is not required.

A further advantage to the use of the locked oscillator controlled by a quenching modulator is that the signals generated by the locked oscillator reinforce the signals received at the transponder, and the sensitivity of the transponder receiver is increased. Accordingly, a greater transmission range between the interrogating point and the transponder can be obtained. In addition, the magnitude of the readout signals transmitted can be reduced so that there will be less interference at the interrogating position between the data signals'received and the readout signals being simultaneously transmitted therefrom.

In the remote meter system provided by the present invention, the accessing of each meter, and the transmission of each data bit from the meter back to theinterrogating point, is controlled from the interrogating point.

In one embodiment of the invention, for example, the interrogating unit is a mobile van which includes a radio frequency transmitter, receiving apparatus, and data processing equipment. Each meter to be read is selected by means of a binary code representation of an identification number for the meter. Amplitude modulated carrier signals representing the meter number are transmitted from the van. This allows the van to select the desired meter from all other meters in the immediate vicinity. Only upon receiving the proper coded interrogation signals will a transmitting unit associated with a remote meter respond with a register reading.

The interrogating signal is made up of two parts. The first part of the interrogation signal is a code that unlocks the responding portion of the meter addressed. The second part of the interrogation signal causes the meter reading data to be transmitted back to the van.

The binary coded data signals are transmitted from the van and received at the antenna of the transponder. The signals are detected at the transponder and are separated into two groups with the signals of one group representing a logic 1 and the signals of theother group representing a logic 0. The reception of either a logic 1 or a logic 0 signal actuates a power switch circuit of the transponder which applies power to a data storage shift register.

The logic 1 and logic 0 data signals are then combined to generate signals which are used to advance the data signals transmitted from the van through the shift register. Each transponder includes signal recognition gates connected to the shift register which are wired to provide a logical code which corresponds to the identification number of the meter. Accordingly, only when the transmitted data signals corresponding to the meter identification number have been loaded into the shift registers of all meter transponders within the range of transmission of the van, will the states of the shift register stages of the transponder of the meter selected to be interrogated will correspond to the wired logic of the signal recognition gates. When such code recognition is obtained at a meter, data signals related to the reading of the meter register at such a meter are gated into the shift register. In addition, the transmitting portion of the transponder is energized.

Meter read out signals transmitted from the van during the second half of the interrogation cycle will cause the data stored in the shift register to be transmitted and also serve as a transmission medium for the reply data.

The reply data, which represents the reading of the selected meter, is transmitted to the van by means of the locked oscillator controlled by the quenching modulator circuit to modify the readout signals received from the van to represent the data stored at the transponder, and to retransmit the. modified signals back to the van.

The locked oscillator comprises a transistor and a quarter wavelength resonant stub at the output of the transistor. The quarter wavelength stub is connected to the antenna of the transponder through an attenuation pad so that the signals received at the transponder are coupled both to the resonant circuit and the input of the transponder receiver.

Base drive for the transistor is supplied by the quenching modulator circuit which includes a pair of oscillator circuits for providing signals of first and second frequencies, respectively. Data signals provided at the output of the shift register in response to the reception of the readout signals control the quenching modulator to generate signals of either the first or the second frequency to effect the transmission back to the van of logic I or logic 0 data, respectively.

The varying drive provided by the quenching modulator for the transistor of the locked oscillator drives the transistor from cutoff through a region of high amplification, into oscillation, and to cutoff.

While the transistor is biased in the region of high amplification, the readout signals coupled to the tuned circuit load of the locked oscillator are fed to the input of the locked oscillator, amplified approximately db, and passed back to the tuned circuit. The locked oscillator circuit locks to the frequency of the readout signal at the tuned circuit and generates a series of sideband signals separated from the frequency of the frequency is provided.

In the embodiment described, in which each readout signal transmitted from the van comprises an amplitude modulated carrier, the locked oscillator is operative to transfer the intelligence on the carrier to each of the sidebands generated.

A narrow band signal receiver at the interrogating vehicle is tuned to the frequency of one of the sideband signals generated by the transmitter of the interrogated meter to detect the meter reading data transmitted.

The meter reply data may be transmitted in a two out of five error detection code to improve the reliability of the data transmitted to the van. According y, he Van would include data processing equipment to compare the data received with other available data as a secondary check on the accuracy of the data received.

Moreover, a plurality of interrogations of the same meter may be effected, and the data bits of each set of data returned to the van can be compared on a bit by bit basis by the data processing unit using a majority interpretation technique to determine which of the transmitted data represents the correct meter reading.

By using these techniques, the range of transmission of the van can be extended and a lower signal-to-noiseratio can be tolerated by the system with little effect on the reliability of the transmitted readings.

While the described embodiment utilizes a mobile van as the interrogating vehicle, it will be apparent that such apparatus can also be located in aircraft or other mobile type equipment capable of transporting the interrogating and processing apparatus, or alternately in fixed locations such as towers and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1a is a block diagram of a meter reading for transmitting meter interrogation signals to a remote meter van;

FIG. 1b is a block diagram of a transponder adapted to receive radio frequency signals transmitted from the van shown in FIG. la;

FIG. is a block diagram of a transponder adapted to be coupled to a telephone line;

FIG. 2a is a timing diagram showing the relationship between signals of the transponder circuits during interrogation of a meter;

FIG. 2b is an enlarged portion of the timing diagram of FIG. 2a;

FIG. is a timing diagram showing the relationship between signals of the transponder circuit during transmission of reply data from the meter;

FIGS. 3-5 put together as shown in FIG. 13 are a schematic circuit diagram of the transponder unit shown in FIG. lb;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one stage of a shift register of the transponder unit;

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram showing the relationship between gating signals for the shift register of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the shift register stage of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing of a meter encoding disc for use with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a table showing a two out of five code provided by the encoding disc shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 110 shown the transmission spectrum of signals transmitted from the transponder;

FIG. 1 1b shows a cycle of the output of the quenching modulator circuit and is used in the description thereof;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the receiving circuits of a van; and,

FIG. 13 shows how FIGS. 3 to 5 are to be assembled;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS General Description Referring to FIG. 1a there is shown a block diagram of a mobile unit or van 20 for use in a system provided by the present invention, for reading utility meters via a two-way radio link established between the van 20 and a meter to be read. Coded signals representing an identification number for a meter selected to be interrogated are transmitted from the van. The meter address and readout signals generated at the van 20 are transmitted to all meter locations within the range of transmission of the van.

Each meter location includes a transponder unit, such as transponder 40 shown in block diagram form in FIG. lb, for receiving the coded signals transmitted from the van and for transmitting back to the van other signals which represent the meter reading. The signals received at the van are decoded and the meter reading data obtained is recorded at the van.

Mobile Unit The van 20 includes a data acquisition circuit (DAS) 22 and a meter selection keyboard 23 for supplying data, representative of a meter identification number, to the DAS circuit 22. Each meter is identified by a seven digit number. The meter selection data is keyed into the DAS circuit 22 in serial fashion by the van operator. Alternately, the circuit meter selection data may be programmed on magnetic or punched tape and supplied to the DAS circuit automatically by a tape programming and recording circuit 24. The DAS circuit 22 accepts the serial input data and generates seven groups of four pulses which represent the binary coding of the identification number of the meter selection to be read.

The DAS circuit 22 provides an additional data bit which precedes the 28 bits which form the binary coding of the meter number and is used to energize the transponder to permit storage of the meter identification signals.

The twenty-nine data bits selectively energize a twotone modulator 25 which generates for each data bit either a 3 kHz tone burst to represent a logic I, or a 2 kHz tone burst to represent a logic 0. The tone bursts which form the dual frequency code generated by the two-tone modulator 25 amplitude modulate a 450 ml-Iz signal generated by a transmitter oscillator circuit 26. The amplitude modulated carrier signals thus provided at the output of the transmitter oscillator 26 pass through a directional filter 27 to an antenna 28 and are transmitted to all meter transponders within the range of transmission of the mobile unit.

The meter identification number is also passed from the DAS circuit 22 to a data processing unit 31 to provide suitable signals to energize a print control circuit 29 to effect printout of the meter identification number being transmitted. The data received from the meter interrogated will also be printed out adjacent the meter identification number.

Meter Transponder Unit The amplitude modulated 450 ml-Iz interrogation signals transmitted from the van 20 are received at all meter transponders within range of transmission of the mobile unit. Each transponder unit, such as transponder 40 shown in FIG. 1b, includes an antenna 41 connected to a directional coupling circuit 42. The interrogation signals pass through a bandpass filter 43 to a radio-frequency signal detector circuit 44 where the meter address data is separated from the 450 mI-Iz carrier signals. 7

The bandpass filter 43 passes the interrogating carrier and its sidebands with a minimum of attenuation and supresses signals removed in frequency from the desired carrier. The detected signals consisting of 3 kHz tone bursts and 2 kHz tone bursts which represent respectively, the logic 1 and logic coding of the identification number of the selected meter, pass from the output of the detector 44 to an amplifier 45, and a limiter circuit 46.

After amplification and limiting, the shaped signals are applied to the inputs of a pair of tone filters 48 and 49 which separate the logic 1 signals from the logic 0 signals. Tone filter 48, tuned to 3 kHz, passes signals representing the logic 1 data bits from the output of the limiter 46 to a tone detector 50. Tone filter 49, tuned to 2 kHz, passes signals representing logic 0 data bits to a tone detector 52.

Shift Register The transponder includes a 29 stage shift register 60 for storing, temporarily, the 29 data bits which comprise the meter identification data transmitted from the van. Since the signals which represent the binary coding of the meter number are complementary, only logic 1 signals provided at the output of tone detector 50 are passed to the shift register 60.

The 29 data bits are entered into the shift register serially and advanced from the first stage to the last stage by clock pulses provided by a clock pulse generator 51. The clock pulse generator 51 is responsive to signals at the output of tone detectors 50 and 52 to provide the clock pulses for gating the data signals through the shift register. The clock pulse generator circuit 51 also provides an enabling pulse for operating a power switch 53 which supplies power to the shift register.

The meter transponder 40 has been designed for low power consumption so that the transponder may be battery powered. The input stages of the transponder, including the radio frequency signal detector 44, the amplifier 45, the limiter 46, tone detectors 50 and 52 and the clock pulse generator circuit 51 have power applied on a continual basis. However, these circuits include passive elements, and complementary field-efiect devices which draw little current. Consequently, the power requirements of the transponder circuit are low enough to make the use of battery power feasible.

When the first data pulse, the signal which precedes the 28 bit binary address, is received and passed to the tone detector 50, the clock pulse generator provides a gating pulse for gating data into the shift register, and an enable signal to energize the power switch 53 and supply power to shift register 60. The power switch 53 supplies operating power to the shift register each time data signals are received at the transponder. Thus, each transponder within receiving range of the van will have power applied to its corresponding shift register in response to signals transmitted from the van.

The power switch 53 remains operated for a maximum of 50 milliseconds after the last data bit has been received after which time the power switch will turn off until a subsequent input is detected by the transponder. In addition, the power switch will be disabled whenever the data train is interrupted for more than three bits.

7 The meter information data transmitted from the van is received by the transponder of each meter located within the range of transmission of the van and the data will be entered serially into the shift register of each transponder. I

In accordance with the principles of the invention, only the meter selected to be interrogated will be enabled to transmit back to the van data which indicates the reading of the meter. Each transponder includes a set of 29 code recognition gates 65 one gate connected to each stage of the shift register 60. The code recognition gates present a coding which is identical to the states of the shift register stages of the selected meter when the interrogation data is stored therein. When the data stored in the shift register 60 corresponds to the pattern of data provided by the code recognition gates 65 a code recognition signal is provided which enables a set of reading transfer gates to gate signals corresponding to the angular position of each of a plurality of digit wheels 71-74 of the selected meter, and accordingly the reading of the meter, into the shift register. The meter reading data for each meter disc is gated into the shift register by parallel transfer effectivelyunder the control of the operator at the van.

Each of the four meter discs 71-74 provides five bits which code the positions of the disc which correspond to units 0-9 of the commodity used in a two-out-of-five signal code, and the shiftregister thus stores 20 bits which represent the meter reading. In addition, the register retains the logic one check bit and the eight bits representing the last two digits of the identification number of the meter selected. The last two digits of the meter address when transmitted to the van along with the meter data provide a basis for comparison with the last two digits of the meter address that was recorded at the van when the interrogate signals were transmitted. Transmitter Latch Circuit When the code recognition gates provide a parity signal, a signal generated by the code recognition gates 65 energizes a transmitter latch circuit 54 which supplies power to a quenching modulator 75 and locked oscillator 76 which transmit reply data back to the van. The transmitter latch, once energized, remains operative for approximately 500 milliseconds which is sufficient to assure transmission of the data stored in the shift register. When the power switch turns off, it also disables the latch circuit 54. Under no conditions can the transmitting portion of the transponder be held in a operated condition for longer than 500 milliseconds. When the latch circuit 54 is enabled, the quenching bursts in the two-tone modulator 25 of the van 20 used to amplitude modulate the 450 mHz signal of the trans mitter and transmitted to the transponder. The amplitude modulated readout signals transmitted pass through the directional coupling network 42 and the bandpass filter 43 to the detector 44 where the information is recovered from 450 mHz carrier wave signals. The 3 kHz tone burst signal output from the detector is amplified by amplifier 45 and passed through the limiter 46 and tone filter 48 to the tone detector 50. The pulses at the output of the detector 50 will cause the clock pulse generator 51 to provide clock signals to enable the power switch S3 to remain turned on so that power continues to be supplied to the shift register during readout. As the twenty-nine readout signals are gated into the shift register, the data pulses stored in the shift register are shifted out of the register and passed to the input of a quenching modulator 75 of the transponder.

Transponder Transmitting Circuit The data pulses are used to control the transmitting portion of the transponder which includes the quenching modulator circuit 75 and the locked oscillator 76. The locked oscillator circuit 76 is basically an oscillator which includes a transistor that is swung from the cut-off region through a region of high amplification and finally into oscillation. This is accomplished by varying the base current, and thus, the collector current of the transistor. Base drive for this transistor is provided by the quenching modulator 75. During the period of high amplification, any signal in excess of approximately 90 dbm received at the antenna 41 will cause the super regenerative circuit to lock to the received frequency for a portion of each cycle of the quenching modulator 75 producing a spectrum of RF components separated in frequency by the quenching modulator frequency.

The transmitting circuit is similar in operation to a super regenerative detector having its quenching frequency supplied to the oscillator 76 by the quenching modulator circuit 75. The frequency of the quenching modulator signal is determined by the data pulses shifted out of the shift register. A logic output will cause a 450 kHz modulating signal to be generated and a logic 1 output will cause a 500 kHz modulating signal to be generated. The modulating signals drive the locked oscillator 76 to generate a series of RF side bands separated from the 450 mI-Iz interrogating RF frequency by multiples of the frequency of the quenching modulator signal. Each of the side bands have the same tone burst modulation (3 kHz) that is received on the interrogating carrier transmitted from the van. The frequency of the reply signal is therefore largely determined by the interrogating signal. Reception of Data at Van The radio frequency signals transmitted from the transponder are received at the antenna 28 of the van 20 and passed through directional filter 27 to a receiver 30. The receiver is tuned to one of the sidebands of the transmitted spectrum of signals and detects signals of the tuned frequency, separates the intelligence from the signals, and provides appropriate signal wave shaping prior to passing the transmitted data to the data acquisition circuit 22. Since the signals are complementary, the detection of either logic one or the logic zero data signals will be sufficient to obtain the information which relates the intelligence transmitted from the transponder.

Various arrangements can be employed for the detection of the signals transmitted from the transponder unit 40. As mentioned above, a single receiver can be used which is tuned to one of the stronger side hand signals, or alternately, a plurality of receivers can be used, each tuned to a different ,sideband of either 500 kHz or 450 kHz spacings and the outputs of all the receivers can be compared to determined the majority output to select the information to be recorded at the van.

The signals received at the van and passed through the receiver and the DAS circuit 22 are then processed by the data processing circuit 31 and converted from the two-out-offive code to decimal form.

Decoded signals representative of the meter reading and of the last two digits of the meter identification number are used to control a print control circuit 29 to provide the printout of the meter reading as transmitted from the transponder and decoded at the van.

The data is recorded on magnetic or punched tape and is printed out on a suitable media adjacent the meter identification number which was printed out as the meter selection signals were transmitted. The last two digits of the meter identification number are compared with the last two digits of the data transmitted from the transponder to provide an indication of whether or not correct data has been received.

The above preferred embodiment of a remote meter reading system employs a mobile unit or van 20 which is driven in the vicinity of the meters which are to be read. Alternatively, the radio frequency interrogation signals could be transmitted from a central location via microwave towers or the like to all meters within a predetermined transmitting range.

Direct Line Interrogation of Remote Meter Referring to FIG. 1c, there is shown an arrangement in which the interrogation signals are sent directly to a meter transponder 66 over a data line 77 which may be, for instance, a telephone line.

To interrogate a meter, such as one associated with the transponder 66, shown in FIG. 10, the interrogation signals are generated at the central control 69 and are passed over a telephone line 77 to the transponder. The transponder includes an input section comprised of an amplifier 80 a limiter 81, a tone filter 82 and a tone detector 83 connected in series. The transponder further includes a twenty-nine stage shift register 93, meter discs 88 to 91, and reading transfer gates 87 for gating signals from the discs 88-91 into the register 93.

The input section of the transponder, the shift register 93, meter discs 88-91 and reading transfer gates 87 are similar to those discussed in the foregoing with reference to FIG. lb.

In the control center 69, a meter reading access circuit 68 selects a meter which is to be read, and causes a signal to be transmitted to the meter transponder 66 over the telephone line, 77 causing power to be applied to the transponder circuit. The signals received at aline coupler 78 pass to a coupling network 79 and through the amplifier 80 and the limiter 81 to the tone filter 82 and the tone detector 83. The signal at the output of the tone detector 83 enables a clock generator circuit 84 to generate a clock pulse which energizes the power switch 85 applying power to the transponder circuit. The power is supplied by the line coupler 78 which is connected to the telephone line 77.

Application of power to the transponder will cause the reading entry circuit 86 to energize the reading transfer gates 87 for a time sufficient to gate the meter reading data from meter discs 88 to 91 into the shift register 93. The shift register 93 will store the meter reading coded in the two-out-of-five code, as described above with reference to the RF interrogation arrangement.

Readout pulses are generated at the control center for reading out the contents of the shift register a bit at a time. The output of the shift register 93 is connected to a frequency shift keying oscillator 94 the output of which is connected to the coupling network 79 through a low pass filter 95. Data at the output of the shift register 93 is used to shift the frequency of the F SK oscillator 94 approximately 200 Hz to designate a logic 1 and back again to the rest frequency for each logic condition of the shift register output. The low pass filter 95 is used to reduce the harmonic content of the transmitted signal.

The readout of the remote meter can be repeated without dialing the subscriber by reenergizing the reading transfer gates to again transfer the meter reading from the meter discs 88-91 to the shift register and by sending a further set of readout pulses from the control center 69.

Duplex operation is used in this arrangement to facilitate the transmission of data from the control center 69 to the transponder and from the transponder back to the control center 69.

Specific Description The specific operation of the system can best be described with reference to the schematic circuit diagram given in FIGS. 3 to 5, and the timing diagrams shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c. The reference letters A through R of FIGS. 2a-2c are also shown at the points in the circuits of the drawings FIGS. 3-5 where the waveforms would occur.

The timing diagram for the interrogating cycle bit times 0 to 28 is given in FIG. 2a. The interrogation cycle is comprised of 29 bit times 0 to 28 shown in line A. A check bit is generated during the zero bit time of the interrogation cycle and 28 pulses representing the coding of the meter identification number, assumed to be 1,805,769, are generated during bit times 1 to 28. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2a line B, the composite tone grouping of 3 kHz signals representing either a logic 1 or a logic 0 for coding the meter identification number into binary digits is given.

For example, during bit time zero, a 3 kHz signal is generated to represent a logic 1 for the check digit. During bit times one through four, a series of four tones is generated to represent the binary coding for the digit 1, the first digit of the meter identification number. During bit times five through 28, sets of four tones are generated to represent the binary coding of the other six digits of the meter serial number.

Tones of the frequencies in the boxes in line B of FIG. 2a, aligned with bit times 0 through 28, are provided by the two-tone modulator 25 shown in FIG. la responsive to the keying into the DAS 22 by the van operator of signals representing the identification numberof the meter to be addressed. These tones amplitude modulate the 450'mHz signal generated by the transmitter oscillator 26, and the amplitude modulated signal from the oscillator 26 is transmitted to meter transponder 40 shown in FIG. lb and also shown'in detail in FIGS. 3-5.

The signals transmitted from the van are received at the antenna 301 and passed through a coupling network 300-comprised of an attenation pad including resistors 302, 303 and 304.

The signals pass through a bandpass filter 305 which will pass only frequencies in the neighborhood of the interrogate signal which is 450 mI-Iz. The filter 305 provides approximately 40 db of attenuation for frequencies20 mI-Iz or more away from the central frequency of 450 ml-Iz. The bandpass filter 305 consists of four capacitively coupled parallel resonant circuits 307-310.

A center tap of an inductor 306 of input section 307 is connected to attenuation pad resistor 304. Filter section 307 is coupled to section 308 by a capacitor 311; section 308 is coupled to section 309 by a capacitor 312; and section 309 is coupled to output section 310 by a capacitor 313. Passive filter sections are used in the bandpass filter 305 in order to minimize power requirements for the transponder.

The output section 310 of the bandpass filter 305 has a center tap 316 of inductor 314 connected to the anode 317 ofa diode 318, which may be a lN930 video diode. The diode 318 functions as a detector to separate the 2 kHz and 3 kHz information from the 450 mHz carrier signal.

The signals which will be present at the output of the detector 318 will be'a series of tone bursts of 3 kHz and 2 kHz frequencies which form the binary coding of the meter identification number. A capacitor 319 is connected from the cathode 320 of the diode 318 to ground.

The output of the detector stage, the cathode 320 of diode 318, is connected to the input of an amplifier 322. The amplifier 322 comprises a multi-stage, non-inverting amplifier including metal-oxide silicon field-effeet transistors (MOSFET), and a bipolar transistor such as a 2N2605 used for the input stage. A suitable MOSFET transistor for this application is the 2N4352 which exhibits low operating current requirements and good limiting characteristics. The bipolar transistor is used for the input stage of the amplifier 322 because of its low noise characteristics and good beta at low temperature and collector current levels.

The signals present at the output of the amplifier 322 are passed to the input of a limiter stage 330. The input signals are coupled to the base of PNP transistor 331, such as 2N2605, of the limiter circuit 330 through a capacitor 332. The emitter of the transistor 331 is con- 

1. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising: control station means having means for providing interrogate signals of a predetermined frequency for effecting the read out of the information at a selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including receiver means and data means enabled by said interrogate signals coupled to said receiver means to provide data signals which represent the information at the selected indicating device, and data transmit means including locked oscillator means having first and second inputs, first means for coupling said interrogate signals to said first locked oscillator input and to said receiver means, and second means connected to the second input of said locked oscillator and controlled by each of said data signals to vary the gain of said locked oscillator means over a predetermined range which includes the gain value at which a plurality of frequency signals which are related in frequency to the interrogate signals are generated for transmission Back to said control station means.
 2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said means of said control station means includes carrier signal generating means for generating carrier signals and readout signal generating means for generating readout signals for modulating said carrier signals to provide said interrogate signals.
 3. A system as set forth in claim 2 in which said locked oscillator means generates frequency signals which are side bands of said carrier signals modulated by said readout signals.
 4. A system as set forth in claim 3 in which certain ones of said data signals represent logic 1 levels and certain others of said data signals represent logic 0 levels, said second means being responsive to said data signals to effect the generation by said locked oscillator of first and second sets of sidebands of said carrier signals to represent logic 1 and logic 0 data signals respectively.
 5. A system as set forth in claim 4 in which said second means includes first oscillator means, second oscillator means and switch means responsive to each of said certain ones of said data signals to enable said first oscillator means to effect the generation of said first set of sidebands and to each of said certain other data signals to enable said second oscillator means to effect the generation of said second set of sidebands.
 6. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices comprising: control station means having select means for providing carrier signals of a predetermined frequency and select and read out signals for modulating said carrier signals to permit transmission of said select and readout signals to said data indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and for controlling the read out of the information at a selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including receiver means and data means responsive to said read out signals coupled to said receiver means to provide data signals which represent the information at the selected indicating device, data transmit means including locked oscillator means, input means for coupling said carrier signals to said receiver means and to said locked oscillator means, and quenching modulator means controlled by said data signals for providing variable drive signals for said locked oscillator means to enable said locked oscillator means to amplify said carrier signals for coupling to said receiver means over said input means and to generate side bands of said carrier signals.
 7. A system as set forth in claim 6 in which said quenching modulator means includes means selectively controlled by said data signals for effecting the generation of different sets of sidebands to represent said data signals.
 8. A system for selectively obtaining a predetermined pattern of bits representative of information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising: control station means having select means for transmitting interrogate signals including select signals and bit readout signals to said data indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and reading out each bit of the information at said selected indicating device under the control of the bit readout signals, one bit being read out for each readout signal provided at said data indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by said select means to provide data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said data signals and means for serially gating said readout signals into said data storage means as said read out signals are received at said transponder for serially reading out said data signals, and data transmit means including locked oscillator means controlled by each of the data signals, as said data signals are read out, to transmit frequency signals to said control station means indicating the information provided by said indicating device.
 9. A system as set forth in claim 8 in which said select means includes carrier signal generating means for providing carrier signals for transmission between said control station means and said indicating devices to serve as a transmission medium for said select and readout signals.
 10. A system set forth in claim 9 in which said data means further includes signal receiving means having detect means for separating said select and readout signals from said carrier signals.
 11. A system as set forth in claim 10 in which said data transmit means further includes drive means for said locked oscillator means responsive to said data signals for driving said locked oscillator means to effect the generation of frequency signals by said locked oscillator means which are sidebands of said carrier signals.
 12. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which said transponder includes means for coupling said frequency signals generated by said locked oscillator means to said signal receiving means whereby said frequency signals reinforce the carrier signals being received thereby increasing the sensitivity of said signal receiving means.
 13. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising: control station means having select means for providing select signals for selecting one of said indicating devices and for providing readout signals comprised of a predetermined number of interrogate data bits for controlling the readout of the information at said selected indicating device from said control station means, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by each of said readout signals to provide a corresponding output data bit which represents correspondingly information at the selected indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said output data bits and means for gating each of said interrogate data bits into said data storage means for effecting serial readout of said output data bits, and data transmit means including signal generating means controlled by the output data bits as gated by the interrogate data bits, to generate frequency signals having a like number of bits for transmission to said control station means.
 14. A system as set forth in claim 13 in which said data means includes encoder means for encoding the information at said indicating devices to provide said data signals.
 15. A system as set forth in claim 14 in which said information is encoded in a two out of five code.
 16. A system as set forth in claim 13 in which said control station means includes means for establishing a transmission path over a communication line connecting said select means and the selected one of said indicating devices for passing said readout signals to said selected indicating device and for passing said frequency signals to said control station means.
 17. A system as set forth in claim 14 in which said data means includes transfer means for providing parallel transfer of said data signals from said encoding means to said data storage means.
 18. A system as set forth in claim 17 in which said data means includes means enabled by said select means for energizing said transfer means to effect said parallel transfer of said data signals.
 19. A system for selectively obtaining a predetermined pattern of bits representative of information from a plurality of remotely located indicating devices comprising: control station means having select means for selecting one of said indicating devices said control station means including bit readout control signal means for providing readout signals for effecting the bit-by-bit readout of the information at said selected indicating device with each bit being read out under the control of the readout signals, one bit being read out of the selected indicating device by one readout signal and means for establishing a transmission patH over a communication line connecting said select means and the selected one of said indicating devices for passing said read out signals to said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by said interrogate means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said data signals and means for serially gating each of said readout signals into said data storage means for effecting the readout of said data signals, and data transmit means including signal generating means controlled by said data signals, as each of said data signal is read out, to send frequency signals over said transmission path to said control station means, indicating the information provided by said indicating device.
 20. A system as set forth in claim 19 in which said signal generating means includes oscillator means controlled by said data signals to generate frequency signals of first and second frequencies for representing said data signals.
 21. A system as set forth in claim 19 in which data means includes switch means enabled by said interrogate means for effecting the energization of said data storage means.
 22. A system as set forth in claim 20 in which said data storage means comprises a multi-stage shift register having parallel data entry gate means for gating said data signals into said shift register in parallel.
 23. A system as set forth in claim 22 in which said data means further includes means controlled by said switch means for enabling said parallel data entry gate means upon selection of said indicating device by said interrogate means.
 24. A system for selectively obtaining a predetermined pattern of bits representative of information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices comprising: control station means having select means for transmitting select signals to said indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and for thereafter transmitting readout signals to said indicating devices for effecting the bit-by-bit readout of the information at said selected indicating device each bit being read out at said indicating device under the control of said select means, a transponder for each indicating device including data storage means, means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, recognition means responsive to said select signals for effecting the gating of said data signals and to said data storage means, gate means for serially gating said read out signals into said data storage means to effect the serial read out of said signals, and data transmit means controlled by each of the data signals read out of said data storage means to transmit frequency signals to control station means provided by said indicating device.
 25. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which said transponder includes means responsive to the leading one of said select signals transmitted by said control station means for effecting the energization of said data storage means.
 26. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which said select signals are coded to represent an identification number for the selected indicating device, said gate means being effective to gate said select signals into said data storage means, the recognition means of the selected indicating device transponder being operable in response to the storage of select signals representing said identification number in said data storage means to effect the gating of said data signals into said data storage means.
 27. A system as set forth in claim 26 in which said transponder includes means responsive to said select signals to generate gating signals for enabling said gate means to gate said select signals into said data storage means, and responsive to said readout signals to generate further gating signals for enabling said gate means to gate said readout signals into data storage means.
 28. A syStem as set forth in claim 24 which includes further gate means responsive to said recognition means for gating said data signals into said data storage means in parallel.
 29. A system as set forth in claim 26 in which said transponder includes transmitter latch means controlled by said recognition means whenever said selected indicating device is selected to be read out to provide an energizing potential for said data transmit means to permit the transmission of said frequency signals to said control station means.
 30. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which said data transmit means includes locked oscillator means and drive means for providing drive signals for said locked oscillator means for effecting the generation of said frequency signals by said locked oscillator means.
 31. A system as set forth in claim 30 in which said locked oscillator means includes semiconductor means and in which said drive means provides varying drive signals for said semiconductor means for driving said semiconductor means through successive regions of operation so that said semiconductor means functions as a high gain amplifier, as an oscillator, and is then cut off, said frequency signals being generated while said semiconductor means is operating as a high gain amplifier.
 32. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising; control station means having select means for providing carrier signals and select tones of first and second frequencies for selectively modulating said carrier signals to permit transmission of said select tones to said indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices, and for thereafter providing further carrier signals modulated by readout tones of said first frequency to permit transmission of said readout tones to said indicating devices for effecting the readout of the information at said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, means for detecting said select and readout tones, first tone detecting means for providing a first select output signal for each select tone of said first frequency detected and a readout output signal for each readout tone detected, second tone detecting means for providing a second select output signal for each select tone of said second frequency detected, shift register means, recognition means responsive to said first select output signals for effecting the gating of said data signals into said shift register means, gate means for serially gating said readout output signals into said shift register means to effect the serial readout of said data signals, and data transmit means controlled by each of said data signals read out of said shift register means to transmit frequency signals to said control station means, indicating the information provided by said indicating device.
 33. A system as set forth in claim 32 in which said data transmit means includes locked oscillator means.
 34. A system as set forth in claim 33 in which said data transmit means further includes drive means for said locked oscillator means responsive to said data signals for driving said locked oscillator means to effect the generation of frequency signals which are sidebands of said carrier signals.
 35. A system as set forth in claim 34 in which said gate means is effective to gate said first select output signals into said shift register means for enabling said recognition means.
 36. A system as set forth in claim 35 in which said transponder includes further gate means controlled by said recognition means for effecting the parallel entry of said data signals into said shift register means.
 37. A system as set forth in claim 36 in which said transponder includes clock pulse generating means responsive to said select output signals and said readout output signals for providing gating pulses for enabling said gate means And said further gate means.
 38. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising: control station means having select means for wirelessly transmitting interrogate signals including select signals and read out signals to said data indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and effecting the readout of the information at said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by said select means to provide data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said data signals and means for serially gating said readout signals into said data storage means as said readout signals are received at said transponder for serially reading out said data signals, and data transmit means including RF locked oscillator means controlled by each of the data signals, as said data signals are read out, to wirelessly transmit frequency signals to control station means indicating the information provided by said indicating device.
 39. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising: control station means having select means for providing RF carrier signals and select tones of first and second frequencies for selectively modulating said RF carrier signals to permit wireless transmission of said select tones to said indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices, and for thereafter providing further RF carrier signals modulated by readout tones of said first frequency to permit transmission of said readout tones to said indicating devices for effecting the readout of the information at said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, means for detecting said select and readout tones, first tone detecting means for providing a first select output signal for each select tone of said first frequency detected and the readout output signal for each readout tone detected, second tone detecting means for providing a second select output signal for each select tone of said second frequency detected, shift register means, recognition means responsive to said first select output signals for effecting the gating of said data signals into said shift register means, gate means for serially gating said read out output signals into said shift register means to effect the serial readout of said data signals, and data transmit means controlled by each of said data signals read out of said shift register means to wirelessly transmit frequency signals to said control station means, indicating the information provided by said indicating device.
 40. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices comprising: control station means having means for providing interrogate signals for effecting the read out of the information at a selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including receiver means for receiving interrogate signals and data means responsive to the received interrogate signals to provide data signals which represent the information at the selected indicating device, and data transmit means having locked oscillator means including semiconductor means, quenching modulator means controlled by said data signals for providing variable bias signals for varying the operation point of said semiconductor means so that said semiconductor means is operable to function consecutively as a low gain amplifier, a high gain amplifier, an oscillator and then to be cut off, and coupling means for coupling the received interrogate signals to said locked oscillator means to enable said locked oscillator means to generate frequency signals which are side bands of said interrogate signals whenever said semiconduCtor means is biased for operation as a high gain amplifier.
 41. A system as set forth in claim 40 wherein certain ones of said data signals provided by said data means represent the logic 1 levels and other ones of said data signals represent logic 0 levels, and said quenching modulator means is responsive to said certain ones of said data signals to provide bias signals of a first frequency for said semiconductor means and is responsive to said other ones of said data signals to provide bias signals of a second frequency for said semiconductor means and in which said locked oscillator means is responsive to the bias signals of said first frequency to generate a first set of side band signals representing logic 1 data levels and in response to bias signals of said second frequency to generate a second set of side band signals representing logic 0 data levels.
 42. A system as set forth in claim 40 wherein said locked oscillator means is operable to amplify the interrogate signals coupled to said locked oscillator means and in which said coupling means includes means for coupling the amplified interrogate signals to said receiver means, whereby the amplified interrogate signals reinforce the interrogate signals provided by said control station means thereby increasing the sensitivity of said receiver means.
 43. A system as set forth in claim 40 in which said coupling means includes a tuned circuit connected to the locked oscillator means.
 44. A system as set forth in claim 43 in which said coupling means includes an attenuation network connected between said tuned circuit and said receiver means.
 45. A system including a mobile unit having means selectively obtaining information from a remotely located device, said mobile unit having transmitter means for providing signals of a predetermined frequency in the direction of said remotely located device, said remotely located device comprising a transponder including receiver means and identification means responsive to said received frequency signals transmitted by said mobile unit to provide identification signals which identify the remotely located device, and transmit means including locked oscillator means having first and second inputs, first means for coupling said received frequency signals to said first locked oscillator input at the said receiver means, and second means connected to the second input of said locked oscillator and controlled by each of said identification signals to vary the gain of said locked oscillator means over a predetermined range to thereby modify the received frequency signals with identification information for transmission back to said mobile unit.
 46. A system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said second means includes quenching modulator means controlled by said identification signals to provide variable drive signals to enable said locked oscillator means to amplify said frequency signals for coupling to said receiver means over said first means and to generate side bands of said frequency signals for transmission back to said mobile unit.
 47. A system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said second means includes quenching modulator means controlled by said identification signals to provide first and second drive signals, and means for coupling said drive signals to said locked oscillator means to provide first and second signals in a preselected sequence representing the identification of said remotely located device.
 48. A system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said first means includes antenna means, first signal coupling means connected between said antenna means and the first input of said locked oscillator means, whereby the received frequency signals are amplified by said locked oscillator means, and second signal coupling means connected between said antenna means and said receiver means to couple said received signals to said receiver means along with the frequency signals as amplified by said locked oscillator means to thereby reinforce said Received frequency signals.
 49. A system including a mobile unit having means for selectively obtaining information from a remotely located device, said mobile unit having transmitter means for providing signals of a predetermined frequency in the direction of said remotely located device, said remotely located device comprising a transponder including receiver means, identification means responsive to said received frequency signals transmitted by said mobile unit to provide identification signals which identify the remotely located device, and transmit means including locked oscillator means, input means for coupling said frequency signals to said receiver means and to said locked oscillator means, and quenching modulator means controlled by said identification signals for providing variable drive signals for said locked oscillator means to enable said locked oscillator means to amplify said frequency signals for coupling to said receiver means over said input means and to generate side bands of said frequency signals representing an identity of said remotely located device. 